The cold season is upon us and uniquely provides a great opportunity to determine how badly damaged your windows are. Winter is the best time to identify problems with your existing windows. As materials contract in the cold weather and your windows are exposed to precipitation and other elements there is a good chance problem areas in your windows will manifest in the form of leaks and drafts. Once you identify these problem areas, a project consultant will be better able to identify which windows need to be replaced and which can be repaired. Here are a few things to look for:
Check the caulking around the window. Broken or missing caulking will allow water and the wind to penetrate the walls and cause moisture damage and rotting over time. Caulking acts as the first line of defense against water penetration into the wall structure.
Look for signs of worn weatherstripping. In slider and hung windows, weatherstripping is a crucial element in preventing drafts and heat loss. As the window gets older, the weatherstripping wears out and deteriorates. Most weatherstripping today is peel and stick, and you can replace it yourself.
Check your window for sealed unit failure. A chip or cracked glass pane may seem like a visual nuisance, but the problem may be much bigger than meets the eye. If your glass panes are put together in a sealed unit, there is a good chance there may be a gas fill between the glass panes to improve the window’s efficiency. If the glass pane is cracked, the seal in the window may be broken causing the gas to leak and your home to lose heat. It is often possible to change just the sealed unit in the window without having to replace the whole window.
Monitor air humidity in your home. Because warm air contains more moisture than cold air, it is common for windows to form condensation on the glass. If left to stand this condensation can cause mold growth on windows or be absorbed into wood window components, eventually leading to rotting. Some people resort to buying dehumidifiers for their homes, but lowering the thermostat a couple of degrees or simply ventilating the room can reduce the levels of humidity significantly.